GEORGE E SGOURAKES
Engineering in Millis, MA

6684720, Feb 3, 2004

Dec 20, 2000

09/745757

George E. Sgourakes - Millis MA

Waters Investments Limited

G01N 114

7386411

A fluid transfer device includes a cylinder and a displacement rod. The cylinder is fabricated rigid enough to minimize distortion of volume yet compliant enough to create a seal between itself and the surface of the displacement rod. The cylinder is constructed with a bore hole through its central portion running from end to end. The diameter of the bore hole is larger than the diameter of the displacement rod. The displacement rod is constructed of a rigid material. At least one end of the cylinder has a diameter reduced so the diameter of the bore hole and the diameter of the displacement rod are substantially the same to form a seal with each other. As the displacement rod is withdrawn from the bore hole, a sample is drawn into the bore hole. The volume of the sample drawn into the bore hole is a function of the volume of the displacement rod withdrawn from the bore hole. A cross hole, for venting undesired fluid such as gas bubbles or previous sample(s), is located on the displacement rod.

4380935, Apr 26, 1983

Feb 20, 1981

6/236416

George E. Sgourakes - Millis MA
Paul J. Lefebvre - Little Compton RI

The Foxboro Company - Foxboro MA

G01F 132

7386124

A vortex-sensing fluid flowmeter has a freely rotatable vortex-shedding body suspended in a section of conduit through which a fluid stream passes, the body being oriented generally transverse to the direction of fluid flow. The body has an integrally formed upstream-facing portion adapted to shed a series of vortices within the fluid, which vortices alternately influence opposite lateral faces of the body, tending to produce a periodic rotation of the body about a firmly attached rotational shaft. The shaft is rotatably mounted to the conduit and passes at one end through the wall of the conduit to the exterior thereof. A sleeve-like tube surrounds the shaft and is fastened tightly at its bottom end to the shaft and at its top end to the conduit wall to provide a fluid-tight seal around the shaft. The tube is sufficiently flexible and pliable to exert negligible restraining force against the rotation of the shaft. A sensing device located outside of the fluid stream and coupled to the externally protruding portion of the shaft exerts a predetermined restraint on the shaft.

4470313, Sep 11, 1984

Apr 5, 1982

6/365678

Richard W. Kalinoski - East Providence RI
George E. Sgourakes - Millis MA
Duane Thompson - Franklin MA

The Foxboro Company - Foxboro MA

G01L 110

7386259

A resonant wire instrument for producing a measurement signal, which is derived from the resonant frequency of a vibratable wire tensioned in accordance with the magnitude of a physical variable being measured, wherein a force impulse produced mechanically by an apparatus is applied to displace laterally one end of the vibratable wire so as to excite the wire into resonant motion. In one embodiment, the one end is rigidly attached to a housing and a piston applies a transverse force impulse to that end by momentarily striking the housing. In another embodiment, the one end is connected to a piezoelectric crystal which responds to a short-duration electric field to displace momentarily that end. In one species of this other embodiment, the crystal is made to oscillate at the resonant frequency of the tensioned wire by the application of an alternating-polarity voltage signal that is generated by a voltage source having an output connected to the crystal, and a feedback circuit coupled to receive the measurement signal operates to produce a control signal that is used for controlling the voltage source so that the voltage signal being applied to the crystal has a frequency which varies in accordance with changes in the resonant frequency of the wire.

5641270, Jun 24, 1997

Jul 31, 1995

8/509472

George E. Sgourakes - Millis MA
Joseph F. Actor - Uxbridge MA
Richard L. Vigeant - East Douglas MA
Carlton H. Paul - Groton MA

Waters Investments Limited - Wilmington DE

F04B 4906, F04B 1700, F04B 3500

417 442

A magnetostrictive pump is provided which makes use of a magnetostrictive element which, when an alternating magnetic field is applied to it, compresses a chamber containing a working fluid. A bellows located within the working fluid is repeatedly compressed by the compression of the chamber, and pumps a fluid to be pumped in and out of the bellows. Since the magnetostrictive element does not directly contact the bellows, the bellows life is greatly extended. Valves are provided to direct the fluid flow in a desired manner. The pump may be combined with other pumps in various series or parallel arrangements to create a pump system. The pump may be pre-biased to make its response more linear by either mechanical or magnetic biasing. A permanent magnet may be used to magnetically bias the pump and create an "at-rest" initial extension of the magnetostrictive element. Similarly, a spring may be used to mechanically load the magnetostrictive element.

4085614, Apr 25, 1978

Dec 11, 1975

5/639776

John R. Curran - Attleboro MA
George E. Sgourakes - Millis MA
David A. Richardson - Sheldonville MA

The Foxboro Company - Foxboro MA

G01F 132

73194VS

A vortex-shedding flow-sensing instrument comprising a flat-faced vortex-generating plate integral with a downstream sensor-bar having flat sides set back laterally with respect to the rows of vortices shed from the edges of the vortex-generating plate. The side surfaces of the plate are tapered inwardly at a moderate angle, and extend downstream a short distance to rear surfaces at right angles with respect to the direction of fluid flow. The downstream end of the sensor bar comprises a tail piece the side surfaces of which are tapered inwardly at a moderate angle, and extend downstream a short distance to a rear surface perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow. The sensor bar carries a liquid-filled capsule having as side walls a pair of flexible diaphragms effectively in the plane of the sensor-bar side surfaces. These diaphragms are of moderately large area so as to respond to a relatively large portion of the vortex energy. The diaphragms transmit alternating vortex pressure pulses interiorly of the capsule to a sensing element in the form of a ceramic disc having piezo-electric properties.

4708010, Nov 24, 1987

Oct 14, 1986

6/918053

George E. Sgourakes - Millis MA

The Foxboro Company - Foxboro MA

G01L 2700

73 4R

A differential-pressure transmitter having a range diaphragm and a slack diaphragm to receive process pressures and to apply such pressures to an interior sealed chamber containing a fill-liquid. An internal passageway between the regions adjacent the diaphragms provides for transfer of fill-liquid in response to differential pressure changes. The passageway serially includes a vertically-oriented tube containing a ball of magnetic material and surrounded by a solenoid winding. Energization of the winding lifts the ball to the top of the tube. When the winding is de-energized, the ball drops down through the fill-liquid to create a reference pressure pluse which is directed to the range diaphragm to correspondingly alter the instrument output signal. The output signal is monitored to check the span calibration, and adjustments are made as needed.

4852466, Aug 1, 1989

May 15, 1987

7/050167

Mark D. Freeman - Wrentham MA
John L. Koukol - North Attleboro MA
Stanislaw Koziol - Wrentham MA
George E. Sgourakes - Millis MA

The Foxboro Company - Foxboro MA

F01B 1900, F16J 300, G01L 700, G01L 708

92104

Floating the diaphragm portion of a diaphragm sensor in the pressurizing fluid frees the diaphragm from exterior housing forces, and makes overall manufacture and replacement inexpensive. A diaphragm can be protected from exterior stress by interspersing a channel between the diaphragm edge and the closure and support structure of an enclosing housing. By extending the channel and incorporating an adequate seal, the diaphragm structure may be made replaceable. The replaceable diaphragm further allows use of a smaller amount of costly materials, and makes repair less costly.

4520678, Jun 4, 1985

Sep 13, 1983

6/531561

Stanislaw Koziol - North Attleboro MA
George E. Sgourakes - Millis MA

The Foxboro Company - Foxboro MA

G01F 132

7386124

A small line-size vortex meter comprising a small-diameter flow tube cast with an integral vortex-shedding bar and an external sensor housing. The outer surface of the housing is formed with an approximately circular recess extending towards the flow tube and communicating with the interior of the tube through side-by-side impulse ports located adjacent one end of the vortex-shedding bar. Inserted into the central region of the recess is a sensor body having diaphragms on opposite sides to respond to vortex pressure fluctuations transmitted through the impulse ports to chambers along the sides of the sensor body. The sensor body comprises an oil-filled capsule with the diaphragms serving to transmit the pressure fluctuations to a piezo-electric sensor element which produces corresponding electrical signals.

2013006, Mar 21, 2013

Mar 18, 2011

13/583080

George E. Sgourakes - Millis MA, US

G01F 1/32

7386124

A vortex flow meter that senses the alternating pressure variations generated by a fixed vortex shedding generator. The alternating pressure variations of the vortices within the rows on each side of the vortex shedding generator act upon flexible elements producing forces on long columns that are transmitted to remotely located piezoelectric force sensors. The alternating forces upon the two columns are used to determine the passage of a vortex and thereby the flow. Improved output signal by minimizing loss of parasitic energy. 97% of the available signal is applied to the piezoelectric force sensors as compared to conventional 60%. Process influences such as vibration in all planes and pumping pulsations are equal and opposing and are rejected by the sensor. A capability of operating at extreme process temperatures is assured for the high temperature of the process is dissipated to the environment along the long columns. Reliability of operation is assured for the sensor has no process seals and is easily replaced by technicians, without interrupting flow or venting process. Improved process containment is realized with construction having a high safety factor and multiple stages of process containment. Wafer form reduces installation costs and an optional redundant sensor improves reliability of operation, decreases pumping losses, and only requires one K-factor. Process up-time is assured with an economical redundant sensor.

5146793, Sep 15, 1992

Oct 6, 1989

7/418103

George E. Sgourakes - Millis MA
Stanislaw Koziol - Wrentham MA

Millipore Corporation - Bedford MA

B01L 302

7386421

A sealing means is provided that may be used, among other things, for sample injection apparatus used in liquid chromatography. The seal includes a jacket having a central bore through which a hypodermic needle containing a sample is inserted. The jacket includes a U-shaped cross section having an inner axial surface and an outer axial surface. Metal cylindrical bands which function as springs are positioned tightly against the inner and outer axial surfaces respectively. Each band has a slot extending through its thickness and along its entire axial length.